In recent years, games have increasingly received attention as a source of inspiration for areas outside of games and play itself. After a successful workshop at CHI 2016 we are preparing an edited book in the Springer Human-Computer Interaction Series explicitly aiming to reveal bridging concepts and presenting methods for introducing the application of game elements and game design principles to research in the field of HCI.

We contributions on an edited book on Research Games: Using Game Design Elements as an Inspiration for HCI Research Methods. This book will focus on how game design elements can be used to improve HCI research and how such elements can become part of the different phases in human-centered and participatory design. The book will focus on both, complete ‘research games’ and on the use of single game design elements in research.

Topics

We hope to encourage game designers, HCI researchers, and practitioners to contribute with their work to the suggested topics (but not limited) below:

• Theoretical reflections and positions
• Applying existing game models to ‘research games’
• Critical reflections on research games
• Bridging concepts: classical game design concepts that could be relevant for research games
• Positioning ‘research games’ within various research and design fields, such as, HCI, HCD, or PD, (e.g. in relation to serious games, design games, participatory design games, playful interactions)
• Literature review: map which existing game design elements are relevant for research games Case studies and application domains
• Examples of game-based HCI methods
• The use of game design elements in very diverse HCI phases and/or domains • Lessons Learned, both positive and negative
• Methodological Approaches of using research games
• Focus on games as a research method: which game elements worked well in research and which didn’t?
• Design process of research games
• Added value of research games compared to existing HCD methods
• How complete or open-ended should a research game be? When do we still talk about a research game?

Editors

Karin Slegers (KU Leuven / iMinds), Bernhard Maurer (University of Salzburg), Lizzy Bleumers (VUB / iMinds), Alina Krischkowsky (University of Salzburg) & Mark Blythe (Northumbria University)

Submitting your chapter proposal

If you’d like to contribute to this edited book, please let us know by submitting a chapter proposal until September 1st, 2017. Your chapter proposal should include a 1 page description of the chapter’s content, a contribution statement and an initial outline. To submit your chapter proposals, please use the following Google form link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSehVV5ErGmflJ0njB8bMd8jE2Ynv4JocoX3SjV52V -qWaC10g/viewform

Submission Process and Deadlines

• Chapter proposal deadline: 1st September 2017
• Notification of accepted proposals (authors can start to prepare full chapter): 1st October 2017
• Full chapter submission deadline: 26th January 2018
• First round reviews will be sent: early March 2018
• Deadline for submitting revised chapters: late April 2018
• Second round reviews will be sent: late May 2018
• Final decisions for accepted chapters: late June 2018
• Camera ready versions of chapters: July 2018